Gastrointestinal fluoroscopy: what are we still doing?
OBJECTIVE
We used Medicare data to quantify trends in gastrointestinal fluoroscopy volume.


CONCLUSIONS
Although overall gastrointestinal fluoroscopy procedures continue to decline, the fall is not uniform. Nationwide Medicare data from 2001 to 2006 reveal that the volumes of barium enema and upper gastrointestinal studies suffered a steep drop, but the numbers of esophagograms and swallowing studies actually increased. These numbers highlight the challenge facing gastrointestinal fluoroscopy training and offer guidance for modifying curricula.
DiSantis
David J
DJ
Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. ddisanti@wfubmc.edu
D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States